BALSAM, or BALM OF GILEAD, is a liquid resinous substance, which has long enjoyed a very high reputation in the east, being prized not only for its fragrance, but also for the medicinal virtues which it is supposed to possess. It Is the subject of several allusions in the Old Testament, which strongly indicate the prevalent opinion of its preciousness; and is celebrated by Strabo, Pliny, 1)iodorus Sieulus, and other ancient writers, ahnost as a cure for every disease. It is still somewhat doubtful what tree furnishes it, but it is generally believed to be a species of balsamodelulron (q.v.)—a small tree growing in Arabia and Abyssinia, and known as B. Gileaclen,se. The finest balsam, called opobal sarn or balm of Mecca, is obtained by incisions, is at first turgid and white, but filially becomes of a golden yellow color, and of a consistence like honey. Inferior kinds are uhtained by boiling the fruit and the wood. B. of Gilead Ls irritating when applied to the skin, and is believed to resemble B. of copaiva in its effects upon the liturtan system.
Balaamodendron opobalsamunt, a species very nearly allied to 11. Gileadense, is some time.s said to furnish this balsam.
Other substances, sometimes designated balsams, and possessing a somewhat similar fragrance, are produced by different species of tungridarees (q.v.). Among them is one called American balm of 'Gilead, the produce of a tree called idea earana.-13a1samic substances aro furnished also by a number of species of clusiarees--balsaut of Utuiri, a fragrant yellow fluid, by humiriurn Jloribundum. a South American tree, of the natural order hatairittecie.--(aNantax BIM is a kind of turpentine obtained from the mill of Gilead fir (abies balsamea); 111!):-GARIAN BALSAM; from the mugho or mountain pile (Dimes purnilio or muglens); and CARPATMIAN BALSAM:. from the stone pine (pines pinta).
nit and PINE.—BALsam or is the produce of different species of Copaifera. See COPAIVA.